Student challenges KP CM at Young Leaders Convention, heated exchange follows

A tense exchange took place at the Young Leaders Convention in Peshawar when a student sharply questioned Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi over the province’s development record, triggering a strong response from the chief executive.

Addressing the ceremony, the student asked why Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had remained backward for the past 13 years despite being governed by what she termed a “real government.”

“You speak at different forums, but tell us what you have actually given to this province,” she asked, also alleging that development had benefited mainly the homes of MPAs and MNAs rather than the public.

The student further questioned the provincial government’s efforts to curb corruption and called for KP’s progress to be compared with other provinces to assess its actual performance.

Responding to the questions, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi suggested that the student might be affiliated with the Awami National Party (ANP) or another political party. “First tell me what you call development,” he said, while defending his government’s performance.

The chief minister said his government had empowered the youth by encouraging them to ask questions.

“I have made the youth of this province aware of questioning authority. Today, a sister is standing here and questioning the chief executive of the province, and that itself is progress,” he remarked.

He added that if the questioner belonged to ANP, Jamaat-e-Islami or any other party, then the debate had a clear political context.

Referring to past governments, Afridi said that bomb blasts were common during ANP’s tenure and that Nishtar Hall had remained closed at the time. “We reopened Nishtar Hall and provided platforms like today’s event for the youth,” he said.

Comparing KP with other provinces, the chief minister said development was not limited to Lahore and Karachi, claiming that conditions in their suburbs were poor. He alleged that in parts of South Punjab, animals were tied inside schools, while dogs still roamed hospitals in Sindh.

Defending his administration’s plans, Afridi said Peshawar was progressing and that development schemes worth Rs 200 billion were being launched in the provincial capital. He further announced that Rs 1,000 billion would be spent on development projects in the tribal districts.

The exchange drew strong reactions from participants, highlighting growing public scrutiny of governance and development claims in the province.